Roof and floor construction



Aug. 24 1926.-

H. E. MARKS ROOF AND FLOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed May 25, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIE-3.1.

H. E. MARKS ROOF AND FLOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed May 25, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A 4, I w T L {P111511 u I w m 2 5 9 /7 G w, H I I 1 lw m w ||rl1|11|ll11|||:|| T- 1 1 1 1 I I l I I i 1| 1 J H ,5. 3 P. M H M fl W a a" s 2 u w W M m 7/ M F M F 2 M1, m H y I 6 l r. y h 4 p 32 6 M 3 FIG /N VENTO)? :e M 2: Wm,

WIT/V5255 S Patented Aug. 24, 1926.

S TAT ES HERBERT E; MARKS, F SEWI GKLEY, PENNSYLVANIA.

noon Ann FLOOR CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed May 25,

The invention relates to fireproof flat arch constructions and in the drawings is illustrated as designed particularly for a roof construction, I but manifestly it. can be adapted for floors and other similar uses.

Th}'e object of the invention is to provide a flat arch construction having a minlnllllllg weight with maximum strength, and one which is cheap to constructand erect due in" aart to the reduction in the amount ofweig t of material used and to behandled, andin part to dispensing with the usual false work or centering during erectioin In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a vertical. section through a roof constructed according to the invention, the section be ing taken-transversely. of the hollow blocks or; tiles; employed; Fig. 2 is a verticalsection taken at right angles to that of Fig 1, onthe line 22, Fig. 1; Fig.3 is a perspective, view showing the manner of assembling the blocks or tiles; Figs. 4, 5, 7 and 8 are transverse vertical sections showing modified forms of blocks or tiles and modi- 'iiedmeans forsupporting them; Fig. 6 is a plan. view showing the form of device shown in Fig. for supporting the blocks or tiles duringerection; and Fig. 9 is a detailed sectional view showing a modifica tion of the water shedding covering the con crete beam.

In the drawings l indicates the main supporting members for the fiat arch, and which in the case of a roof will be the purlins or similar beams. The flat arch is formed of a series of blocks or tiles 2, preferably hollow asillustrated so as to reduce weight andsecure heat insulation, and which will be of the minimum vertical depth for the desired strength. These blocks or tiles are provided at their lower side edges with laterally projecting flanges 4, are designedto be placed in parallel rows withthe flanges t of adjacent rows substantially abutting, and the space between adjacent rows is then tilled with concrete, gypsumgor other cementitiousmaterial which i e y fi lis'said'speca n s he d acent rows: of bl chS; or tiles together and forms a concrete beam 5 entending atri-ght angles to thezmain:Supp rtingbe m l, The bloc s orrtileszmav or. may not prov ded n their Side: faces with; grooves or recesses: of various forms and" d6ptl1 l1ltOyWhiCl11 the concrete; 5- canjkey, -The drawings. show 1923. Serial No. 641,390.,

simple longitudinal grooves-3, exceptin Fig. r which shows the blocks provided with substantially plain faces, which can be used in, case the cementitious, material for filling the space-is of a, dense closely adhering character, such as in the socalled Granite process. When plain side faces are used it is preferred. to make, them somewhat inclined, as shown in Fig. 7. To prevent the cementitious material from leaking out when applying it, a suitable covert such as a strip of felt, paper or the like, maybe used to cover the space between the edges of the flanges. l. To strengthen the beams 5 a reinforcing member or members 5 is located in the space betweenladjacent rows of blocks or tiles, fairly well-down toward the bottom of-said space and becomes embedded inv the, concrete and forms the tension member of the beam 5. This tension member maybe horizontal, or it may be blocked up where it passes over the main beams or purlins l and allowed to curve downwardly between the main beams or purlins, as shown in Fig. 2.

In order to provide-sufiicient strength in the beams 5 and stillkeep thevertical depth of the hollow blocks or tiles 2 to a mini mum, said beams are formed of greater depth than the body of the blocks or tiles. To permit this the blocks or tiles are provided along their upper side edges with ribs or flanges 6 which-extend a material distanteabove their top faces, to such height to give the desired depth. to the beams 5 molded between them. The concrete forming the beams 5 will be filled up substantially or nearly to the top of the ribs or flanges 6, and will preferably be provided with a cover of, suitable waterproofing material, such as a layer 7 ofasphalt or the like, which will be built up slightly higher than the tops of the ribs or flanges 6 and preferably will be, slightly crowned so as toshed water from the tops or beams. The tops of the ribs or flanges 6 maybe correspondingly curved, or sloped, as shown. In lieu ofthe asphaltum cover 7 the beams may be rendered waterproof by placing or r hem il t r li e ps. 8 asfs iei nin Fi 9. i v i The pacesbe ween ehutt ngfipdfief of the blocks at their upper surfaces are cut away to provide channels 10, which prefer ably extend upwardly along the side faces of the ribs or flanges 6 and also across their tops. as shown in Fig 3.

The tops of the tiles will preferably be glazed so as to dispense with waterproofing, and will be left uncovered, but if desired a layer of asphaltum or other suitable waterproofing material may be applied to their faces, but otherwise the top faces of the tiles will remain exposed. Consequently the top faces of the blocks or tiles form a water shed for carrying off the water. Their bottom faces may also be glazed. The upper faces of these tiles may be curved as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, being of maximum depth at their longitudinal centers and of minimum depth adjacent to the ribs or flanges 6, thus forming in effect two gutters on each row of tiles or blocks for carrying away the water; or the tops of said blocks may be curved from their side flanges 6 downwardly from their longitudinal centers, as shown in Fig. 4c, or they may be flat, as shown in Figs. 5, 7 and 8.

The fiat arch construction described has a minimum weight with maximum strength due to the fact that the greater portion of the area thereof is formed by the bodies of the hollow tiles or blocks of minimum depth, only the side flanges and the intervening concrete beams being of full height. This reduces the amount of material entering into the construction, and also the amount and weight of material to be handled in shipping and erection. This is one element tending to reduction in cost.

The tiles and blocks are preferably so constructed that they can be placed in position without the use of the usual false work or centering. To this end the said tiles or blocks are provided with longitudinal slots for receiving supporting members extending longitudinally of the blocks or tiles and of a sutficient length to joint together and simultaneously support a row of tiles or blocks of a length at least sufficient to bridge the space between adjacent main supporting beams 1. As shown in Figs. 1 to 4 these longitudinal slots are in the form of openings 12 in the upstanding ribs or flanges 6, said openings preferably being rectangular in shape and of a size to receive bars 13 of suflicient strength to support the row of blocks and hold them in alignment. The bars 13 will be threaded through the openings of a series of saidcblocks of a length to bridge at least two adjacent beam members 1 and the entire series can then be handled as a unit and placed in position. After a sufficient number of such unitshave been put in place, the longitudinal spaces between adjacent'rows of such blocks will be filled with concrete or grouting to the desired depth and the whole then left to set. After the concrete has set sufiiciently to support the structure, the bars 13 are removed endwise, and can be used for assembling and supporting other blocks which are then put in place and the operation repeated until the entire roof deck or other structure is completed.

If desired the supporting bars can be threaded through the side openings 14 of the bodies of the hollow tiles or blocks, with the same effect. as above described.

In Figs. and 6 the longitudinal slots for the supporting members are shown in the form of grooves 15 formed in the inner faces of the upstanding ribs or flanges 6, and are adapted to be engaged by the bottom flanges of channel shaped members 16, which are connected by any suitable means which will hold them with their flanges in engagement with the grooves 15, such for instance as the toggle members 17 pivotally connected to the channel members at 18 and to each other at 19. In using these connected channel members a number of blocks will be placed end to end in a series suflicient to bridge-the space between adjacent beams 1, the channel members 16 will then be lowered down onto the same between the lateral flanges 6, the toggle members 17 will be straightened to spread the channel members and bring their bottom flanges into the grooves 15, and hold them in that position; whereupon the entire series of blocks can be handled as a unit, placed in position and will be held in position by these channel members while the concrete is poured and until it sets, after which the toggle members will be flexed and the frame removed and used in connection with other blocks.

Various other forms of longitudinal slots and of supporting bars may be used. Fig. 7 shows longitudinal slots 21 formed in projec-tions 22 on the upper face of the tiles or blocks and which slots open up through the tops of said projections. The supporting bars 23 in thisinstance are of T-shape, and will be assembled with and'removed from the blocks or tiles by endwise movement, exactly as in the case of the bars 13 of Figs. and 41. Fig. 8 shows slots in the form of a pair oflongitudinal grooves 2% on opposite sides of projections 25 on the upper faces of theblocks or tiles, thus making substantially T-shaped heads; and the supporting bars 26 are of inverted channel form with inwardly projecting flanges 27engaging the grooves2t. These also areassembled with and removed from the blocks or tiles by endwise movement, exactly as in the case of the bars 13 of Figs. 3 and 4.

' The flat arch construction describedis of minimum weight with maximum strength. The strength is secured by providing sufficient depth to the concrete beams 5. The main portion of the flat arch. be g formed by the bodies of hollow tiles or blocks, is of mininiuln depth and therefore of light weight. The top surfaces of the bodies of these blocks or tiles is left substantially uncovered. As stated the tiles preferably will be glazed in which case they will be themselves be water proof and need no further waterproof covering. This is a further element tending to reduction of cost. If desired however said top surfaces may be left unglazed and the entire surface then covered with a thin coating of waterproofing substance, without however materially adding to the weight of the finished structure.

Also the method of assembling and supporting the hollow blocks during erection and during pouring and setting of the concrete which forms the beams, is such that no false work or centering of any kind need be employed. This is a further elementtending to greatly reduce the cost of the finished structure. The supportingbars 13, 23 or 26, or the equivalent members 16 and 17, can be used over and over again, as is obvious.

I claim: 7

l. A fireproof fiat arch construction comprising tiles or blocks arranged in rows and spaced apart, said tiles or blocks being provided along their upper side edges with ribs or flanges projecting above their top surfaces, the lower edges of the body portion of the blocks being provided with longitudinal side recesses and laterally projecting flanges, in combination with reinforced cementitious beams in the spaces between said rows of blocks and extending up in the space between the side ribs or flanges of said blocks and keyed into the longitudinal side recesses in said blocks.

2. A. fireproof arch construction for roofs and the like comprising tiles or blocks arranged in rows and spaced apart, said tiles and blocks being provided at their upper side edges with upwardly extending ribs or flanges and at their bottoms with laterally extending flanges and provided in their side faces with longitudinally extending grooves or recesses, in combination with cementitious beams filling the spaces between said blocks and keyed into the longitudinal side recesses thereof and extending up into the spaces between the side ribs or flanges on said blocks, and waterproof material covering the joints between the abutting ends of said blocks.

3. A fireproof flat arch construction for roofs and the like comprising hollow tiles or blocks arranged in rows and spaced apart, said blocks being provided at their upper side edges with upstanding ribs or flanges, the top surfaces of said blocks being lowest adjacent to the side flanges and higher between the same, a waterproof filling at the abutting ends of said blocks, and cementitious beams in the spaces between said rows of blocks and extending up between the side ribs or flanges of said blocks, and a Water shedding covering over the tops of said beams.

i. A fireproof arch construction for roofs and the like comprising a plurality of tiles disposed in end to end relation, each of said tiles being provided with a slot for tempera rily receiving areniovable supporting member adapted to operatively engage a plurality of said tiles during the course of erection, the receiving slots of the several tiles being disposed in longitudinal alignment with each other whereby to permit free withdrawal. of said temporary supporting member after erection of the roof.

5; A fireproof arch construction for roofs and the like comprising a plurality of tiles disposed in parallel rows with similar tiles, said tiles having a plurality of longitudinal upstanding ribs provided with slots for temporarily receiving a removable supporting member engaging a plurality of said tiles during the course of erection, the receiving slots of the several tiles being disposed in longitudinal alignment with each other whereby to permit free withdrawal of said temporary supporting member after erection of the roof.

6. A fireproof arch construction for roofs and the like comprising a plurality of hollow tiles or blocks provided at their upper side edges with ribs projecting above their top surfaces, said ribs having longitudinal slots for removably receiving atemporary supporting member during the course of erection, said blocks having their lower side edges equipped with laterally projecting flanges, the receiving slots of the several tiles being disposed in longitudinal alignment with each other whereby to permit free withdrawal of said temporary supporting member after erection of the roof.

In testimony whereof, I sign my name.

HERBERT E. MARKS. 

